Small-town market profile · North Carolina
Marion, NC area market data
How the Marion area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 45,198
- +1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 18,638
- Median household income
- $57,168
- +31.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $171,100
- Jobs located here
- 15,917
- Highest market score
- 88
- Insurance agencies, #19 of 537 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Marion area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Marion area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Marion area has an estimated 45,198 people and 18,638 households. Population estimates show the Marion area grew 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in the Marion area is $57,168, 29% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 31.0%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Marion area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 138, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (55).
Of the business types scored in the Marion area, insurance agencies (88), pet businesses (73) and dentists and orthodontists (71) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #19 of 537 scored small-town markets.
The Marion area is made up of one county, McDowell County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (58% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (49% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Marion area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Marion area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 88 | #19 of 537 | 17 | 9.1 | $3M | 236 | 10 |
| Pet businesses | 73 | #42 of 527 | 16 | 8.6 | $872K | 99 | 4 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 71 | #67 of 526 | 9 | 4.8 | $2M | 205 | 7 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 70 | #94 of 536 | 22 | 11.8 | $1.4M | 157 | 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 68 | #74 of 399 | 6 | 3.2 | $4M | 138 | 16 |
| Child care and preschools | 68 | #87 of 454 | 6 | 3.2 | $1M | 103 | 4 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 68 | #114 of 536 | 16 | 8.6 | $1.9M | 149 | 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 65 | #98 of 529 | 8 | 4.3 | $7.5M | 201 | 8 |
| Gas stations | 64 | #123 of 536 | 32 | 17.2 | $1.8M | 77 | 23 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 63 | #148 of 538 | 34 | 18.2 | $3M | 89 | 9 |
| Auto repair and car care | 62 | #165 of 538 | 72 | 38.6 | $246K | 92 | 18 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 61 | #151 of 538 | 69 | 37.0 | $864K | 130 | 30 |
| Auto repair shops | 60 | #173 of 538 | 44 | 23.6 | $403K | 91 | 10 |
| Convenience stores | 60 | #182 of 529 | 18 | 9.7 | $5.7M | 72 | 3 |
| Nail salons | 59 | #132 of 387 | 5 | 2.7 | $2.9M | 173 | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | 59 | #137 of 400 | 5 | 2.7 | $3.6M | 151 | 6 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 58 | #160 of 481 | 12 | 6.4 | $2M | 120 | 29 |
| Grocery stores | 58 | #175 of 506 | 12 | 6.4 | $8.6M | 92 | 6 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 57 | #190 of 538 | 63 | 33.8 | $229K | 108 | 4 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 55 | #211 of 538 | 153 | 82.1 | $390K | 105 | 73 |
| Electricians | 53 | #130 of 295 | 5 | 2.7 | $9.4M | 78 | 14 |
| Pizza | 51 | #241 of 520 | 13 | 7.0 | $4.6M | 90 | 34 |
| Gyms | 51 | #242 of 506 | 8 | 4.3 | $1.3M | 97 | 5 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 50 | #261 of 507 | 14 | 7.5 | $4.3M | 103 | 8 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 50 | #270 of 538 | 99 | 53.1 | $183K | 120 | 41 |
| Barbershops | 46 | #219 of 377 | 7 | 3.8 | $2.1M | 109 | Under 3 |
| Real estate | 46 | #311 of 536 | 40 | 21.5 | Index only | 145 | 21 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 45 | #327 of 533 | 33 | 17.7 | Index only | 140 | 13 |
| Hair salons | 44 | #335 of 538 | 35 | 18.8 | $413K | 96 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 44 | #336 of 526 | 22 | 11.8 | $2.1M | 88 | 35 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 44 | #347 of 535 | 18 | 9.7 | $558K | 84 | 5 |
| Tire shops | 42 | #281 of 431 | 9 | 4.8 | $2M | 79 | 6 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 42 | #351 of 537 | 26 | 13.9 | $2.3M | 75 | 34 |
| Car washes and detailing | 41 | #298 of 441 | 10 | 5.4 | $1.8M | 70 | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 37 | #300 of 387 | 10 | 5.4 | $1.4M | 55 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 37 | #375 of 476 | 16 | 8.6 | $2.9M | 61 | 16 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 35 | #347 of 458 | 15 | 8.0 | $1.2M | 68 | 23 |
| Spas and skin care | 35 | #407 of 504 | 16 | 8.6 | $903K | 103 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 31 | #320 of 378 | 7 | 3.8 | $1.4M | 71 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $4.5M | 190 | 5 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $4.4M | 144 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $722K | 106 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $6M | 94 | 13 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | Index only | 161 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $4.7M | 103 | Under 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $4.7M | 171 | 4 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $3.3M | 82 | 5 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $15.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $9.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.1 | $12.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $17.7M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | 6 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $46.8M | Too few | 5 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $18.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Marion area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $17.7M | $952 | 99 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $58.4M | $3,135 | 121 |
| Food away from home | $59.6M | $3,199 | 79 |
| Groceries | $102.8M | $5,515 | 87 |
| Personal care products and services | $14.5M | $775 | 77 |
| Child care and other personal services | $6.2M | $331 | 57 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $10M | $539 | 55 |
| Medical and dental services | $18.1M | $974 | 76 |
| Pets | $14M | $749 | 82 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $30.4M | $1,629 | 79 |
| Vehicle insurance | $50.4M | $2,703 | 138 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $46.8M | $2,509 | 83 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $24.2M | $1,296 | 92 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $251.9M | $13,518 | 81 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Marion area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 45,198+1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 18,638
- Median age
- 44.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 76%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.0
- Land area
- 440 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 102
- Median household income
- $57,168+31.0% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $72,753
- Median home value
- $171,100
- Jobs located here
- 15,917
- Daytime population
- 39,859Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Marion area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Marion area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Marion area 1
- McDowell County, NC44,817 people
Other markets based in North Carolina 12
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area2,768,407 people
- Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area1,487,302 people
- Greensboro-High Point, NC metro area786,419 people
- Winston-Salem, NC metro area689,766 people
- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area601,724 people
- Wilmington, NC metro area453,347 people
- Asheville, NC metro area414,711 people
- Fayetteville, NC metro area392,380 people
- Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area368,316 people
- Jacksonville, NC metro area207,906 people
- Greenville, NC metro area177,193 people
- Burlington, NC metro area176,893 people
Questions
How fast is the Marion, NC area growing?
Population estimates put the Marion area at 45,198 people in 2025, up 1.5% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 18,638 households. Median household income rose 31.0% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Marion, NC area spend?
Households in the Marion area spend about $251.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $102.8M on groceries and $59.6M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Marion area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 138, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (55).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Marion, NC area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Marion area are for insurance agencies (88), pet businesses (73) and dentists and orthodontists (71). The Marion area ranks #19 of 537 scored small-town markets for insurance agencies.
How does the Marion, NC area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Marion area is $57,168 a year, 29% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $171,100, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Marion area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (58% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (49% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 39 of the 56 business types have a score in the Marion area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Marion area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in the Marion area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Marion area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.